Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, unspecified site

This code signifies an acute bone infection that has spread through the bloodstream, affecting an unspecified skeletal location. It indicates a sudden onset inflammatory process within the bone marrow and cortical bone, caused by bacteria or other microorganisms disseminated via the circulatory system.

Use this code when the medical record clearly documents acute hematogenous osteomyelitis but does not specify the anatomical site of the infection. This is appropriate when the physician's diagnosis is definitive for this type of osteomyelitis, but further diagnostic workup to pinpoint the exact location is pending or not yet determined.

• Only use this code when the site of osteomyelitis is truly unspecified; otherwise, a more specific code should be selected.
• Distinguish between acute and chronic osteomyelitis; this code is exclusively for acute presentations.
• Review documentation for any mention of the causative organism, which would require an additional code from B95-B97.